Released 22/03/2010
The ACT Government has begun planting 570 trees at 23 sites across Canberra to replace those removed last year due to poor condition or for safety reasons, Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Jon Stanhope, announced today.
The planting is occurring in Ainslie, Campbell, Deakin, Dickson, Forrest, Griffith, Lyneham, Narrabundah, O’Connor, Reid, Turner and Yarralumla.

“These trees will be planted to replace those removed last spring and to fill other gaps in the landscape at these sites,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The planting of these trees was originally intended to take place last spring, but was postponed due to the hot and dry weather.

“Now, following the recent rain and the cooler autumn temperatures, the conditions are perfect to undertake the plantings.”

Mr Stanhope said the replacement trees were selected to match the surrounding landscape and to suit Canberra’s dry climate.

“The plantings will be completed by the end of April.”

The new trees will be under the care of a planting contractor for over a year and then included in the Department of Territory and Municipal Services’ maintenance program.

The list of sites in this program is available at http://www.tams.act.gov.au/.

Mr Stanhope said the replacement planting program was in addition to the One Million Trees initiative which was seeing the planting of one million trees and shrubs across Canberra to improve the look of the city and to improve water quality in the Lower Cotter Catchment.

He said other tree plantings would be undertaken this year to rejuvenate Canberra’s urban forest.